Thirukkural 311 in English
Tamil original, transliteration, English translation, meaning, commentary, pronunciation, and chapter context.
Tamil original
சிறப்பீனும் செல்வம் பெறினும் பிறர்க்குஇன்னா
செய்யாமை மாசற்றார் கோள்.
Transliteration
Sirappeenum Selvam Perinum Pirarkku
Innaa Seyyaamai Maasatraar Kol
Modern English
“A good person will not hurt others even to gain wealth, status, or a more comfortable life.”
Modern Interpretation
A good person will not hurt others even to gain wealth, status, or a more comfortable life. Success bought with someone else's suffering is not true greatness. For example, taking credit for a coworker's work may bring a promotion, but it damages both fairness and trust.
Listen
Tamil pronunciation
Compare translations
Modern Plain English
A good person will not hurt others even to gain wealth, status, or a more comfortable life.
Poetic Couplet (Bharati)
The pure by faith mean pain to none Though princely wealth by that is won
G.U. Pope Translation
Though ill to neighbour wrought should glorious pride of wealth secure,No ill to do is fixed decree of men in spirit pure
Classical Meaning (Drew & Lazarus)
It is the determination of the spotless not to cause sorrow to others, although they could (by so causing) obtain the wealth which confers greatness
Tamil commentary
சிறப்பைத் தரும் செல்வத்தைப் பெறுவதாக இருந்தாலும்கூட அடுத்தவர்க்குத் தீமை செய்யாதிருப்பது குற்றமற்றவரின் கொள்கை.
Chapter 32
More from Not doing Evil
இன்னா செய்யாமை
The pure by faith mean pain to none Though princely wealth by that is won
Kural 312The spotless hearts seek not revenge Though Malice does the worst in rage
Kural 313Revenging even causeless hate Bad-blood breeds and baneful heat
Kural 314Doing good-turns, put them to shame Thus chide the evil who do harm
Kural 315What does a man from wisdom gain If he pines not at other's pain?
Kural 316What you feel as pain to yourself Do it not to the other-self
Kural 317Any, anywhere injure not At any time even in thought
Kural 318How can he injure other souls Who in his life injury feels
Kural 319Harm others in the forenoon Harm seeks thee in afternoon
Kural 320No harm is done by peace-lovers For pains rebound on pain-givers